Neutral-position detector for automobile pedals



Feb. 9 1-926.

G. cook NEUTRAL POSITION DETECTOR FOR AUTOMOBILE PEDAL-S Filed Nov. 16, .1925

Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE COOK, 013' DETROIT. MICHIGAN.

Application filed November 16,1925. Serial No. 69,473.

To (ZZZ 11:71am mal/ COM-elm:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn Cook, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit. in the county of lVayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovement-s in Neutral-Position Detectors for Automobile Pedals; and 1- do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The transmissionmechanism of the Ford automobile, as well known. includes a single pedal for controlling the high and low speed and the clutch of the machine, and this pedal must be forced forwardly from its normal running or high speed position, to a neutral position in order to disengage the clutch and permit stopping of the machine. Forcing of the pedal forwardly beyond neutral position, throws the machine into low gear and it is very difficult, particularly for beginners, to stop the pedal at the neutral position, when it is necessary to throw the clutch out. Thus, there is a great element of danger in connection with learningto drive the Ford and such element obtains also to some extent even with experienced drivers. It is one objectof my-invention however to overcome this difficulty by the provision of a simple and inexpensive, yet an elficient and desirable check which readily detects for the operator when the clutch pedal is in neutral.

Itmay be further explained that the neutral position is not always the same, but varies according to wear on certain transmission parts. Hence, a further aim of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the check may be adjusted as occasion may demand.

A still further aim is to provide a check which will not interfere with forward movement of the pedal beyond neutral position when it is desired to throw the machine into low gear.

lVith the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the relation of the invention with the usual set of pedals of a Ford automobile.

Figure 2 is a sectional View through the invention.

Figures 3, at and -5 are sectional views partly in elevation showing the relationsof parts when the combined clutch and speed controlling pedal is respectively in high speed, position, neutral position, and low speed position. i

In the. drawing above briefly described, the three conventional foot pedals O, B and R have been-shownpassing through the usual slots in the floor boards F. The

pedal G is theone which controls the clutchas wellas the low and high speeds ofthe machine. The normal running or high speed position of this pedal is at the rear ex-- tremity of its movement, as shown in Figs.

1 and 3, and to disengage the clutch, the

pedal must be forced forwardly to the neu tral position disclosed in Fig. 4 whereas to throw-the machine'into lowgear, said pedal must beforced forwardly beyond neutral,

as disclosedv in- 5. h'lyinvention enables the operator, even though he be a novice, to readily determine when the pedal C is in clutch-releasing or neutral position, and the preferred form of such invention hasbee'n herein disclosed, with'the understanding however, that numerous variations may be made, even thoughthe construction which has been illustrated, will be rather specificallydescribed.

The numeral 6 designates an attaching base which is preferablyhorizontally elongated as shown, said base being enlarged at one end as indicated at 7 and having an up ward projection 8 at said end, while at its opposite end and at suitable, points in its intermediate portion, said base is formed with openings to receive screws or the like 9, by'means of which it may be secured to the floor boards F- The base is preferably of such a length as to permit the fasteners 9 to engage the floor boards to the right of the usual slotted plate P under the foot pedals.

A conical coiled spring 10 has its base portion disposed around the projection 8 of the base 6. the upper end of this spring being provided with a check member 11 which is disposed in the forward path of the pedal C and is so shaped as to effectively engage said pedal and hold the spring against lateral yielding, when the pedal reaches the neutral position shown in Fig. 4. The check member 11 is provided with a downward projection 12 fitting within the upper end of the spring 10 and equipped with a heel: 13.

This hook is engageable with jany of the upperlin-k's of a small chain 14'wliieh :is disposed within the spring; and has its lower end anchored at to theaarojeetion 8 0f the base 1. By properly adjusting the chain 14 to vary its efiectivedengtln it' will befiseen that the check member 11 inav be disposed at the exact point at' -wliic'h its use is desired, to engage the pedal C, when the latter iSiIi-itstm'e neutral bositien. I

The gp'edal C may he moved Without any unusual "retardationfrom the high speed position of -Figs. l atnd'3 to the eutral bosition vi tue-'4, but as soonas -it'= engages *the check 11, the operator feels the 'resistan'ce' of thespring I0: and is hence immediately notified "that the bedaiis 'lllfll'fil'ltffil'. He may then apply his' hr ake Without-"danger 0-ichoking thelnetorand the machine wilhbe eif'e tively 'hroug'lfit to a standstill, whereas with the -o1-*di-nar;, --arrangement of Bed; 1s, if

' thepedal C be forcetlj"forwardlv'beyond neutral-5 the machine-is thrown into low near and: application-of "t-he' brake Will- =st2tll the meter-when stopping fthe nachi 1e: Moreove1-, when tl nsi itiednl' 1S accidentally n-oved into low speed position instead: of neutral.

i towstandstill; I

force until it feel's th'e 'aetion; of the bra'k'e, often eausin'g serious -aeeiclen't when in realltytll" operator 111621111; to; bring the machine rl w'vard iinpiilseto saidfpedal.

V jTlie fornrdf constructionfherei i disclosed hasprovjento' be ierv desirable andispreferabl'yf ollowedl However, as ahove st'a'ted'. nunrerjous variations may be nade jwithin the .s'oope of lthe "invention asclaiined. "QIla-im: f I l1] 'ieutral position 'detectorfor the neutral pos'itionp combined clutch;ilow anlkhiglr pedal pedal when in its neutral position, said check beingyyieldable: avitlt tlie pedal when of an automdhi le; a=- *yilditbleeheek and means-for mounting it in the forward oath .ofthepedahinposition to be struck by said the latter is forced forwardlv bevond said 7 i 2. A structure as specified in claim 1;- sai d 7 1 check consisting of a ;ce1f1ed eompre'ss on is K spring atlapted' to 'be "compressed lovfsaid i brwardforeinwof the; pedal:

springadaptetl" to} be compressed by I sat forward forcin gof ethepedali and ad stableinean :for hm-itingitliefdistention o r the 7' spring; VI 1 4i; ln ai neut ral 'position deteetor'ior the 7;? I 'CQIDbIHFKliC'lHtUh, 10w and higghs speed pedal mobile in advance of 'tliie'peda n=eheck niem i r engaging th'e i'ippei" end if he SiJDlII'g' and adaptedlforengagement:

l1 the {pedal base andtlre-dheckmeniber tb liliiiit hed'is tentio'n: fthe spring; tlreeonneeitiemat one end (if s'ai'c 1901: varyi inen'ty a v I nzrstru'e'tnre snecifiethin claim eheekja-ne1'libe1'v and'y ba se lia yiii-g inea holding t-lle spring'mQainst lateral? more the'S iringE flexible eleinent heing ii iii irst ahle rthe efieetive lcngtlro f 'saidi'ele r 7 i whentheilatterzreaches its neuitrali osition 

